History (1000AD - 1900AD)

Around 1000AD, the ethnic NaXi territory LiJiang (Beautiful River )
was wedged at the junction of its 3 influential neighbors: the Tang Dynasty Empire
in the northeast, Kingdom of DaLi in the southwest, and the Kingdom of Tibet
in the west. The town DaYanZhen (Great Ink-stone Town ) situated at the
convergence of the ancient east-west trade routes evolved from an important
trading post along the horse-yak caravan road into a key commercial center.

DaYanZhen gradually grew in status and significance as a political, military,
and cultural center throughout Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties.